With the new Mel Gibson movie coming out, it’s good to see the original series that inspired the film. The original BBC series Edge of Darkness has been released on DVD, courtesy of Warner Home Video. While the video quality is not the best, the acting and story behind this series has all the goods that make a great thriller. Any fan of BBC productions would appreciate this collectible set. It’s great for people like me who never got to see the original to watch before seeing the new film. And for anyone that’s already watched the series, it’s a good time to revisit this classic.
More drama in everyone’s favorite ER. In real life, the last place you want to be is in the ER. But on TV, it’s hard to keep your eyes off this gripping series. Already over the 12 season mark, this show has stood the test of time. And on the DVD set for the twelfth season, there’s so much drama inside and outside the hospital. This six-disc set has all the episodes that over 10 million viewers tuned into every week during this season. Impressive! To give you a glimpse, there’s a mother looking for a runaway son, a doctor with a questionable past, a doctor returns from Iraq, and one heads to Darfur. This set is out now courtesy of Warner Home Video and I definitely recommend checking it out.
With so many good TV shows on these days, it is pretty hard to narrow down the ones that are worth watching. Surprisingly, ABC Family is one network that has a great selection of shows to check out. Two of these, which just recently got released on DVD for the first time, are Make It Or Break It and 10 Things I Hate About You.
Make It Or Break It is about four teenage girls on their way to the Olympics. In this gymnastic drama, there is a lot of rivalry as you see just how far they will go for their dreams. It shows the highs and lows that come with extreme competition among teens, especially girls. The Volume One DVD set gives you a chance to revisit the show again with over 400 minutes of running time. Features on the DVD include a behind the scenes look at the show, extended episode, deleted scenes, and a lot more to keep fans of the show busy for quite a while.
Featurette: Stunt DoublesWhat are you afraid of?
Next is the series 10 Things I Hate About You, which is based on (you got it!) the hit movie starring Heath Ledger. While the show has some significant differences from the film, as a show it is one of ABC Family’s best. It’s witty, funny, and the cast holds up the show really well. This Volume One DVD set is definitely worth checking out if you want to see teenage comedy done right. Along with the episodes, the set contains lots of additional features such as audio commentaries, bloopers, and much more. Even if it didn’t have all the extra features, I still would recommend it for all the laughs and clever stories in each episode. Check it out!
Behind the scenes: Bloopers
Detention
Wow, I can't believe it's been TEN years since 10 Things I Hate About You came out. Not only was this Heath Ledger's American screen debut, but it is one of the BEST teen comedies ever made. Witty dialogue, a solid cast, and one of the funniest paranoid dads you'll ever see make this one a hit. I forgot how good this film was, until I recently checked it out on the Blu-ray version. On this 10th Anniversary Edition of the film, the film gets an updated look on Blu-ray AND you get to see some great never-before-seen footage on the special features. The feature 10 Things I Love About 10 Things I Hate About You 10 Years Later takes a trip down memory lane with an inside look at the screen tests done for the talented cast of this film. With a running a little over an hour, this feature also includes lots of one-on-one interviews with the cast and crew. So if you enjoyed this film as much as I did, do yourself a favor and check it out.
And for your enjoyment, check out these clips:Book Store
Meeting
Stadium Serenade
Parking Lot
Tell Me Something True
Trailer
I don't remember watching this show in my younger years, but after checking out Ruby-Spears Superman on DVD, I am now a fan. I'm glad WHV decided to release this on DVD, because it really is a great animated series. The colors are nice and bright, and on the 2-disc DVD set there are 13 very entertaining episodes to really enjoy. The dialogue is a little cheesy at times, but overall the show is enjoyable. I definitely recommend checking it out.
Leave it up to Mike Judge to poke fun at the typical American workplace...
What happens when you take director Mike Judge and throw in Jason Bateman, Kristin Wiig, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, and Gene Simmons from KISS? You get EXTRACT, the latest comedy from Judge out now on DVD and Blu-ray. Followers of Mike Judge will remember him mostly for his cult classic Office Space. It’s been a while since he put out something like that. Now, we finally get to see EXTRACT. While this film is no Office Space, it does have all the elements of a great Mike Judge comedy. The stereotypical characters in the workplace are dead on, as anyone who has been a part of drama in the office can relate to the shenanigans that go on here. Jason Bateman does a great job playing the owner of a flavor extract factory and having to deal with all the strange daily happenings within his company. Not only that, but he has some sexual frustrations with his wife, played by Kristin Wiig. Surprisingly, Ben Affleck pulls off a memorable role as the annoying “friend” to Bateman’s character, who causes more trouble than you can think of. I checked out the Blu-ray and if you are looking to see this film, definitely get the Blu-ray version. Not only is the video quality 10 times better, but you also get some extended scenes AND an exclusive deleted scene not shown in the theaters. Overall, I recommend this movie because of its ability to highlight the eccentricity of life in a typical American company.
I've been compiling an end-of-the-year DVD list for releases that came out in 2009. And without further ado, here they are:
John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band Live In Toronto '69
This DVD contains the only performance caught on film by the above named band. John and Yoko sharing the stage together is quite a site to see. If you are a fan of John Lennon, I highly recommend you check it out. Yoko is real annoying here, but John does his magic on stage which turned out to be one great performance.
The Middleman: The Complete Series
Defending the Earth against against “exotic problems” is a tough job. But it never looked funnier than it does in The Middleman. This set released by Shout! Factory contains the entire series in a collectible 4-disc set. For fans of the bizarre and anything related to graphic novels, definitely give this one a try.
Parker Lewis Can't Lose: Season One
Finally! One of TV’s best series to come out in the past 20 years gets released on DVD. Parker Lewis was the hit series on FOX that was around in the early 90’s. Parker, you may remember, was the Ferris Bueller-ish character that made this series memorable. Witty, funny, and wildly entertaining, this DVD set of the first season is not to be missed.
BROTHERS & SISTERS: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON
This kind of show is usually not my cup of tea. However, if you are into family dramas, then this set may be right up your alley. A six-disc set of this ABC show starring Sally Field and Calista Flockhart, BROTHERS & SISTERS: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON contains all the episodes along with cast interviews and deleted scenes to keep you entertained. Like I said, it’s not my type of show, but if you are, then you’d dig this set.
Transformers: Season Two, Vol. 1 25th Anniversary Edition
Shout! Factory continues to please fans again with the release of Transformers: Season Two, Vol. 1 25th Anniversary Edition. Optimus and company are back this time in a 4-disc set with the first 28 episodes from the show’s second season. Old and new fans alike will enjoy this collectible set that reminds us just how damn good this series was.
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.2
Yo Joe! I haven't seen the movie yet, but from what I hear it can't hold up to the original animated series. Speaking of which, the second part of the first season put out by Shout! Factory contains 22 episodes with all the explosive action that made this show such a hit. Great for adults and kids alike, this makes a great addition to any fan's collection.
Mr. Belvedere: Season Three
You didn’t think he was gone for good, did you? Everyone’s favorite snarky housekeeper is back in the DVD set of the third season. This set keeps the laughter coming with episode after episode of the 80’s hit show Mr. Belvedere. If you like you’re housekeepers overly-sarcastic, then don’t miss this one.
thirtysomething: the complete first season
I was too young to get into this show when it was out, but with the release of the first season on DVD, I can now see why it was a hit. This show taps into the lives and struggles of a group of “thirtysomethings” and is just as relevant now as it was then. On the DVD set you’ll find 21 episodes, a behind the scenes look at the show, and commentaries with the cast and crew. Check it out.
Mister Ed: Season One
Wilburrrr...
I remember seeing this as a kid on Nick At Nite. The infamous talking horse and his owner Wilbur provide tons of laughter in this DVD set of the entire first season. Released by Shout! Factory (surprised?), this set shows that this talking horse can never be outdated, and is still able to keep viewers laughing after all these years.
THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Who knew physicists could be so funny? This second season DVD set of the hit series THE BIG BANG THEORY proves that they can. With 23 episodes packed into this one set, let Leonard, Sheldon and friends show you just how funny they can be. Highly enjoyable, this set is one that is perfect for any fan of this hit series.
CASTLE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
This one hit me by surprise. A bestselling novelist hooking up with a New York City detective to solve some serious crimes is just the right series to please any fan of crime mysteries. This three disc set contains lots of suspense and some extra features such as bloopers and extended scenes to make it a very entertaining collection to own.
LIFE ON MARS: THE COMPLETE SERIES
One of the best series I watched on DVD this year, LIFE ON MARS: THE COMPLETE SERIES is one that I’ll be checking out again down the road. When a NYC police detective gets mysteriously transported from 2008 back to 1973, things get pretty strange. This set contains all the episodes of this intriguing and suspenseful series and is one of this year’s best releases.
